Colts drop a pair in Doc 4 Life Varsity Showdown

North Marion's softball team just couldn't come up with the big hit when it needed one on Friday afternoon in the Doc 4 Life Varsity Showdown.

By Richard BurtonCorrespondent

North Marion's softball team just couldn't come up with the big hit when it needed one on Friday afternoon in the Doc 4 Life Varsity Showdown.

After being shut out 1-0 by Ponte Vedra in their opener, the Colts rallied back to within two runs in the fifth inning, but left the bases-loaded in the frame and fell 5-3 to Lake City Columbia in games that were part of the event's Diamondback Division.

North Marion (15-3), ranked ninth in the All Class Softball Poll by Miracle Sports and No. 3 in Class 5A, managed only two hits in its opener against Ponte Vedra, ranked No. 5 in Class 5A.

The Sharks (14-3), who lost in the Class 5A final four to Belleview last season, got a complete game two-hitter from Avery Geehr and made a first-inning run stand up in a battle with North Marion senior pitcher Holly McKinnon.

McKinnon, a South Alabama signee, struck out 11 and allowed three hits, including one after the first inning.

Ponte Vedra got hits from Morgan Podnay and Bella D'Errico in the first inning to produce its run and Geehr gave up only a double to Caeley Nix and a single to Erin Klein in the win.

The Colts then saw Columbia, the No. 5 team in Class 6A, score five runs in the fourth to grab the momentum.

North Marion, though, made things interesting in the fifth.

After McKinnon drew her third walk of the game to load the bases with two outs, Brooke Gonzalez smashed a two-run double to pull North Marion to within 5-2.

From there, Kayla Taylor singled in another run and Hailey Cone walked to reload the bases, before Columbia pitcher Erin Anderson induced a pop-up to end the threat.

Nix led the Colts with two hits against Columbia (15-4).

McKinnon (15-3) struck out nine and allowed just two against the Tigers, but a two-run double by Hollianne Dohrn and a two-run homer by Keeley Murray in the fifth help Columbia gain the edge.

Anderson worked around six hits and five walks to earn the win for Columbia.

The Colts, who had outscored their foes 116-12 entering the tournament, stranded eight runners, including one in five of the six innings played.